From Broadcast To Breakfast

Feb. 14, 2007 celebrated the fourth anniversary of Lampang, Thailand’s radio ministry.  This year Pastor Suphot has begun not only to broadcast free of charge but the station is also giving free advertising spots for the new restaurant/outreach point being embraced by the Lampang Nazarene family as God’s answer to their prayers.

Mr. Telasak, a Lampang church member, has been praying over a year; “Lord, please give me a restaurant.” It seemed he was dreaming God’s dream, but nothing seemed to be happening.   Finally, the week before Valentine’s Day this year, Pastor Suphot encouraged Mr. Telasak to spend a night in prayer at the church.  Pastor Suphot joined him for the vigil as they sought God’s will together.  Two days later as Valentine’s Day approached, Mr. Telasak noticed a small open-air restaurant on the corner of one of the main intersections of the town.  He had passed by many times before without giving it a second glance, but on this day he stopped to look.  The owner was closing it down, but after talking with Telasak he gave the restaurant to him.  No charge.  Later that week Mr. Telasak and other church members began discarding spirit worship paraphernalia and altars that had been near the largest supporting tree.  They began looking for pots and pans, dishes, tables.  Everywhere they went items they needed were either donated or purchased at a fraction of the usual cost.  Finally, after setting up a radio tuned in to the Nazarene program on FM 108, the restaurant cum outreach point named: “At’s Place,” was ready. 

Pastor Suphot mentioned to Mr. Tang, the station manager, a newly baptized believer and attender at the church, that the restaurant’s grand opening was set for March 5. Mr. Tang promptly prepared an advertising spot that is aired daily, several times an hour.

But the restaurant is only the beginning of the Lampang Nazarenes’ dream for community impact. The twelve attendees of the congregation are eager to meet people at the restaurant, people who would never willingly enter a church, to share the love of God and their hope in Christ.

Speaking of other dreams, Mr. Tang, a gifted auto mechanic, is also praying for a place to repair cars. The church is also praying for the radio station to one day belong to the Church of the Nazarene. 

All of this has happened as one pastor has committed in trusting God to provide for the church’s needs. As Pastor Suphot shared, “I am so pleased with my church members.  They are growing strong and are now fully supporting me.  God is blessing them!”

By the way, next door to the restaurant is a used car dealership and across the street an abandoned Shell gas station…

Southeast Asia Field Communications

this post was filed under Around The Region on Mar 2, 2007